Rainfall causes 3,700-gallon wastewater spill

NCDOT crews work to clear U.S. Highway 74A between Grant Mountain Road and Bearwallow Mountain Road on Monday morning. Landslides closed many roads in the Gerton and Bat Cave areas after heavy rains on Sunday.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

Staff reports

Published: Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 9:49 a.m.

GERTON — Heavy rainfall caused about 3,700 gallons of wastewater to spill out of manholes in Hendersonville and triggered multiple mudslides that closed roadways in the Gerton and Bat Cave area.

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Manhole covers somehow popped off, allowing the water to flood out of the space, said Lee Smith, city utilities director. Once they were aware of the problem, crews immediately bolted down the covers onto the manholes, he added.

Three wastewater spills occurred Sunday near:

u 416 S. King St., where about 160 gallons spilled into the Mud Creek.

u 421 S. King St., where about 1,750 gallons spilled into Mud Creek.

u 86 New Hope Road, where about 1,800 gallons spilled into a tributary of Bat Fork Creek.

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality was notified on Monday and is reviewing the situation.

City officials also closed flooded streets in that area, where more than 3 inches of rain fell.

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network rain counts indicate anywhere from 2 to more than 4 inches of rain fell between Sunday and Monday in Henderson County, with the heaviest in the northeastern side along the Rutherford County line.

Gerton and Bat Cave received the most precipitation from the slow-moving rainmaker. The first reported mudslide occurred Sunday afternoon near the intersection of U.S. Highway 74A and U.S. 64 in Bat Cave.

By that evening, crews had cleared the road of debris. Sometime later that night, however, another mudslide crumbled onto U.S. 74A near Gerton between Grant Mountain and Bearwallow roads. U.S. 74A was closed some of the day as N.C. Department of Transportation workers cleared the scene of mud, boulders and trees, while Duke Energy crews repaired power lines that were taken down by the destruction.

Drivers traveling along U.S. 74A also ran into smaller mudslides that blocked one lane of traffic. Workers were able to open one lane of traffic by noon on Middle Fork Road, where another landslide sent chunks of earth onto the roadway.

There were also reports of a vehicle stranded in flooded waters at New Hope Road and another on Butler Bridge Road.

By Monday morning, the rain had finally fizzled out and most rivers began receding, said Rocky Hyder, Henderson County Emergency Services director.

“Things are starting to calm down,” he said Monday afternoon.

However, the National Weather Service continued its flood warning for the French Broad River at Blantyre throughout the day because of runoff.

Monday's respite from gloomy weather will be short-lived, weather forecasters say, with more rain predicted for the week.

Today, there's a 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms, followed by a 40 percent chance of precipitation tomorrow. Clouds are expected to clear Thursday, but forecasts indicate another possible soggy weekend.

Around Western North Carolina

Norfolk Southern worker Joseph Drewnoski, 33, was killed after he was trapped in a mudslide while checking track conditions in Black Mountain, according to the Associated Press.

A rockslide temporarily shut down Interstate 40 at the Buncombe and McDowell county lines.

Flooding prompted schools to close in Avery County. Schools were opening two hours later than usual in Watauga County. Emergency crews in Burke County rescued at least two people from a campground.

<p>GERTON — Heavy rainfall caused about 3,700 gallons of wastewater to spill out of manholes in Hendersonville and triggered multiple mudslides that closed roadways in the Gerton and Bat Cave area.</p><p>Manhole covers somehow popped off, allowing the water to flood out of the space, said Lee Smith, city utilities director. Once they were aware of the problem, crews immediately bolted down the covers onto the manholes, he added. </p><p>Three wastewater spills occurred Sunday near: </p><p>u 416 S. King St., where about 160 gallons spilled into the Mud Creek.</p><p>u 421 S. King St., where about 1,750 gallons spilled into Mud Creek.</p><p>u 86 New Hope Road, where about 1,800 gallons spilled into a tributary of Bat Fork Creek.</p><p>The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality was notified on Monday and is reviewing the situation.</p><p>City officials also closed flooded streets in that area, where more than 3 inches of rain fell.</p><p>Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network rain counts indicate anywhere from 2 to more than 4 inches of rain fell between Sunday and Monday in Henderson County, with the heaviest in the northeastern side along the Rutherford County line.</p><p>Gerton and Bat Cave received the most precipitation from the slow-moving rainmaker. The first reported mudslide occurred Sunday afternoon near the intersection of U.S. Highway 74A and U.S. 64 in Bat Cave.</p><p>By that evening, crews had cleared the road of debris. Sometime later that night, however, another mudslide crumbled onto U.S. 74A near Gerton between Grant Mountain and Bearwallow roads. U.S. 74A was closed some of the day as N.C. Department of Transportation workers cleared the scene of mud, boulders and trees, while Duke Energy crews repaired power lines that were taken down by the destruction. </p><p>Drivers traveling along U.S. 74A also ran into smaller mudslides that blocked one lane of traffic. Workers were able to open one lane of traffic by noon on Middle Fork Road, where another landslide sent chunks of earth onto the roadway. </p><p>There were also reports of a vehicle stranded in flooded waters at New Hope Road and another on Butler Bridge Road.</p><p>By Monday morning, the rain had finally fizzled out and most rivers began receding, said Rocky Hyder, Henderson County Emergency Services director.</p><p>“Things are starting to calm down,” he said Monday afternoon.</p><p>However, the National Weather Service continued its flood warning for the French Broad River at Blantyre throughout the day because of runoff. </p><p>Monday's respite from gloomy weather will be short-lived, weather forecasters say, with more rain predicted for the week. </p><p>Today, there's a 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms, followed by a 40 percent chance of precipitation tomorrow. Clouds are expected to clear Thursday, but forecasts indicate another possible soggy weekend.</p><p><b>Around Western North Carolina</b></p><p>Norfolk Southern worker Joseph Drewnoski, 33, was killed after he was trapped in a mudslide while checking track conditions in Black Mountain, according to the Associated Press.</p><p>A rockslide temporarily shut down Interstate 40 at the Buncombe and McDowell county lines. </p><p>Flooding prompted schools to close in Avery County. Schools were opening two hours later than usual in Watauga County. Emergency crews in Burke County rescued at least two people from a campground.</p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.</p>